WSU Football | Defense keys Cougars

The Cougars have reached the halfway point of their regular season and are 4-2, already matching their victory total of last year.

With two more wins, the Cougars can qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2003. Here's a look at WSU football team after six games:

Biggest surprise

The defense. It's pretty good.

Last year, the Cougars lost 44-33 at Oregon State. Last Saturday, they kept the Beavers out of the end zone in a 13-6 win.

At this point last year, the defense had allowed 166 points on its way to an 11-game season total of 346. This year, the Cougars have allowed 109 points.

Best coaching move

Adopting the slogan "Finish!" and preaching it since the 2005 season ended. The players have bought into it.

Defensive MVP

Defensive end Mkristo Bruce leads the nation with 10 sacks.

Runners-up for the honor would have to be senior linebacker Scott Davis and strong safety Eric Frampton.

Davis is described as "the glue" that holds the defense together. He currently is the Pac-10 defensive player of the week, recording two sacks on Oregon State's final possession. Frampton leads the team in tackles with 46 (29 solo) and interceptions with two.

Offensive MVP

It's a tie between wide receiver Michael Bumpus, with a Pac-10-leading 40 receptions, and fellow receiver Jason Hill, who has 28 for a team-high 400 yards and five touchdowns. Bumpus is open a lot because Hill draws double coverage.

Give credit, too, to quarterback Alex Brink for getting them the ball. Brink is completing 60 percent of his passes and has thrown for nine TDs and has been intercepted just four times.

Underappreciated players

Senior offensive lineman Sean O'Connor has performed well at left guard and stepped in for two games at left tackle. Charles Harris has been solid at right tackle. Ropati Pitoitua has clogged the middle effectively at defensive tackle.

Surprise player

Senior cornerback Don Turner has fended off the challenge of three recruited newcomers and is having a solid year.

Most glaring weakness

The Cougars haven't had a kickoff return of more than 20 yards while opponents are averaging 23. Bumpus has averaged just 5.6 yards on nine punt returns with a long gain of 14. Doba blames poor blocking. Opponents are averaging 10.4 yards.

Another weakness

The Cougars are a bad short-yardage team. They were on the Oregon State 3-yard line twice Saturday and scored one field goal.

Biggest loss

Through six games last season, running back Jerome Harrison had rushed for 1,001 yards and 11 TDs. This season, six running backs have combined for 967 yards and four TDs. No Cougars back has had a 100-yard game this season.

Best win

It has yet to come. All wins are good, but Idaho and Stanford were flawed teams and the Cougars offense didn't play well against Baylor or Oregon State.

Best game

The near upset of USC, won by the Trojans 28-22.

Hype ahead

The Cougars will have the opportunity to make history by winning the Apple Cup for an unprecedented third straight year on Nov. 18 in Pullman.

The schedule

The two toughest remaining opponents are about to make back-to-back visits to Pullman. Tenth-ranked California visits Saturday and No. 18 Oregon on Oct. 21. Then the Cougars will be done with the top strata of Pac-10 teams and finish against UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State and the Huskies.

Craig Smith: 206-464-8279 or csmith@seattletimes.com